On Sundays I would go and visit my Dad. He lived in a little basement room with few frills. His flat cap was never far away, or his cigarettes. Usually the coal fire would be lit and the football would be on the tele.

Along a small, old street in my home town of Scarborough was the back-entrance to the sports shop ‘Sydenhams and Co’. It was a bit dusty and tatty and dead flies lay in the window display. But to me it was a treasure trove, because at the back of the shop was the saddler’s, with all the equestrian paraphernalia. For a pony mad kid it was heaven! I especially remember the beautiful hacking jackets hanging on racks inside the store. How I longed to own one.

Here’s the street today … the old saddlers is somewhere on the right, half way up. Iit’s unrecognizable now. Still one of my favorite streets, though it’s certainly had a facelift!